Means for attaching rubber heels and treads to shoes



May 25 1926.

G. c. ROPPERT MEANS FOR ATTACHING RUBBER HEELS AND TREADS T0 SHOES Eiled August 29, 1925 Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. ROPPERT, OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 JOSEPH J. LIBEBATORE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

MEANS FOR ATTACHING RUBBER. HEELS Ann menus To snons.

Application flled August 29, 1925. Serial No. 53,326,

method and ieel to a shoe.

This ir vention relates tqlmeans of attachin a rubber I In attaching ru her heels toshoes, it has been found the universal practice, prior to heads of the nails, requently driving them through the soles of the shoes to the discomfort of the wearer. In addition to this, the continued pounding or movement of the rubber works the nails loose with a consequent detaching of the heels.

Prior to this invention, 'it has been considered wholly impossible to cement rubber heels to the shoes without the use of nails, and the manufacturers have considered this,

, as stated, wholly impractical and also impossible. However, I have found that rubber heels may be cemented to shoes withoutemploying any nails for attachin them in such a manner that they will remain attached to the shoe even beyond the life of the-shoe.

Objects of this invention are therefore to provide a method and means of attaching rubber heels to shoes without the use of nails, and to provide a simple and extremely strong and reliable method of attaching the rubber heels to the shoes by the use of cement so that the rubber heels will remain attached to the shoes even beyond the life of the shoes, and will neither become loosened nor cause any discomfort whatsoever to the wearer, even after prolonged use.

Further objects are to provide a method and means of attaching rubber heels to shoes, which ma be employed by an unskilled laborer with assurance that a permanent union is always attained and without the use of any nails whatsoever.

Anembodiment of the invention is SllOwIl in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure.1 is a bottom view of the heel portion of a shoe, with the rubber heel attached and with parts broken away for clearness.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1, such view being partly in section.

Figure 3 is a very much enlarged, sectional View showing the parts in one stage of the process of-attaching the heel.

Figure 4; shows the same parts in their final position after attachment has been effected, such view being also a very much enlarged section of a fragment of the shoe.

Referring -to the drawings, particularly Figuresl and 2, it will be seen that the shoe 1 has a binder 2 attached to its heel portion 3 by means of a line of stitching 4 which extends around the marginal edges of the binder and which may extend through other portions in addition to the mar 'nal edges if desired- Preferably, in attac ing the binder it is cemented to the heel portion adjacent portions of the binder, and this pressure is preferably maintained while the cement is hardening.

Referring to Figure 2, it is to be noted that the binder is shown very much exaggerated in this view for the sake of clearness although it is to be understood that the1 binder is .a thin sheet of pliable materia At this point it is to be particularly noted that the referable manner of attaching the heel is tiirough the use of a thin piece of upper leather used as the binder, with the flesh side of the leather presented downwardly. In this connection, Figures 3 and 4 are called to attention and it will be seen 7 that these figures disclose the microscopic napores of its up or side coo erate with the microscopic teet of the bin er. The cement joining the binder to the shoe is indicated at 8, and it is to be noted that the stitching passing through the binder and the heel portion of the shoe is not shown, as it would be so large in proportion to the thickness of the binder as to interfere with the proper showing. Therefore, Figures 3 and 4 are to be understood'as sections through the portions of the shoe and heel remote from the stitching.

mented joining of the flesh side of the binder to the rubber heel is indicated at 9 in Figure 4.

In actual tests conducted in accordance with the disclosure of this invention, it has been found that a binder employed in the manner described retains the rubber heel to the shoe throughout the entire life of the shoe, without any detaching of any edge or portion whatsoever of the heel from the binder. In other words, the test was conclusive of the fact that this invention has been actually tried in practice and found eminently satisfactory.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied, and. is therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

I claim 1. The combination ,of a shoe, a binder of leather secured to said shoe at the bottom thereof with the flesh side of the leather down, and a rubber tread cemented to the flesh side of'the binder.

2. The combination of a shoe, a thin pliable binder secured to said shoe at the heel portion, said binder having a multitude of minute fingers projecting downwardly, and a rubber heel having its upper surface ccmented to said binder, whereby the minute fingers of said binder project into the pores of the rubber and are cemented thereto.

3. The combination of a shoe, a leather binder stitched t0 the heel portion of the shoe with the flesh side of the binder down,

and a rubber heel cemented to the flesh side of the binder.

4. The combination of a shoe, a binder of thin upper leather cemented and stitched to the heel portion of the shoe with the flesh side of the binder down,-and a rubber heel cemented and pressed to the flesh side of said binder.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

GEORGE C. ROPPERT. 

